Decorative means and method of applying



Jan. 25, 1944. J. J. LARMOUR 2,339,865

DECORATIVE MEANS AND METHOD OF APPLYING Filed Jan. '16, 1941 \Y A l I |NVENTQR 2 James j iarmoar.

5 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 25, 1944 nncons'rrvn MEANS AND METHOD or APPLYING James J. Larmonr. West Orange, N. 3., assignor to Plastic Inlays, Inc., Summit, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 1c. 1941, Serial No. 314.654 (oi. 20-15) 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a. new and improved decorative means adapted to cover joints between wall boards or the like and to a method of covering such joints. I

Numerous expedients have been adopted in attempting to cover unsightly joints between boards and between sections of other materials utilized to cover the walls and ceilings of rooms. Such previous expedients have generally been objectionable due to complicated features of the covering means, difficulty of application, relatively high cost of manufacture and application and other impracticable characteristics. At the present time there is a rapidly growing popularity of pre-fabricated houses, many of which have their interiors finished with large sheets of wall boards. Since the costs of these pre-fabricated houses must be kept at a minimum, the above noted objections to previous joint covering means makes their use undesirable for covering the joints between wall boards.

The present invention aims to minimize or overcome the above and other dimculties by providing a relatively simple, inexpensive and prac-.

tical means for covering the joints formed by boards, wall boards, sections of plaster or the like. The present invention also contemplates the provision of an improved method particularly adaptable to applying the present joint covering means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for covering joints between wall boards or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved joint covering means which may be easily and rapidly assembled with wall boards or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joint covering means comprising a minimum number of parts.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a joint covering means which may be retained in position without the use of nails, staples or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple inexpensive and more rapid method of covering joints. d

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying ,drawing, forming a part of the specification,

wherein 1 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illusitirating a preferred embodiment of the invenion;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a joint covering means about to be inlaid;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of joint covering means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing portions of wall boards and another modified joint covering means;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the modified joint covering means of Fig. 5 prior to iniaying; Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the modified joint covering means of Figs. 5 and 6 after being inlaid;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a furthe modified form of joint covering means prior to inlaying; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the modi- 'fied joint covering means of Fig. 8 after'bein inlaid.

Referring again tothe drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, there is shown .7

a pair of adjacent wall boards or other adjoining members i and 2 which maybe nailed orotherwise secured to studding, a wall or any other surface. A recess or'seat is preferably provided for receiving the decorative covering means of the present invention and to form this recess each of the boards I and 2 is preferably supplied with a longitudinally extending groove 4 and 5 located at the sides and at the free edge thereof where the joints are to be covered. Where the wall boards are pre-formed of plaster or composition materials, the grooves 4 and 5 are preferably formed in the sheets at the time of manufacture thereof at each edge of the sheet which is expected to adjoin another sheet to form a joint. The grooves may, of course, be

cut or otherwise formed in the boards or sheets I and 2 subsequent to the manufacture thereof.

When the boards are nailed or otherwise secured to a surface or support 3 the adjoining grooves therein complement eachother to form a single recess or channel adapted to-receivej thecovering means.

- I4 of a wall board channel; The decorative strip member"8 is of curved or arcuate cross section and preferably has the convex side thereof chromium plated or otherwise decorated so as to present avpleasing appearance when in inlaid position. Generally the decorative member 8'will be made of metal.

To inlay the members so as to cover a Joint the lower guide member I is first placed at the bottom of a board channel. The lower member 'I may be nailed or tacked into position but this is not essential for the upper decorative member 8 will retain it in position, as will be brought out hereinafter. The curved decorative strip 8 is next placed into the channel so that its concave side faces the lower g'uide strip and the convex outer surface projects above the exposed surfaces I6 of the wall-boards (Fig. 2). The upper decorative strip 8 is then subjected to a pressing or flattening operation to secure the parts together. Any suitable type of pressing member I! may be utilized. During the pressing operation the diverging free edges or legs Ill and II of the arcuate shaped decorative member 8 tend to slide outwardly along the lower guide member I. The lower guide member is not appreciably indented by these free edges during movement thereof but directs them outwardly toward the side wall portions I 8 and ll of a joint channel. The free edges, which are relatively sharp in some instances, are thus prevented by the lower guide member I from digging into the portions forming the bottom of a joint channel. Continued downward movement of the pressing'member I1 causes the free edges I0 and'IiI of the decorative strip member 8 to move firmly into engagement with the channel side walls I3 and I4. In most instances the free edges will dig into the side walls I3 and I4 to lock the parts in the channel. In the position illustrated in Fig. 3 the edges of the decorative strip member are firmly locked with the walls of the channel recess. No undercutting or notching of the channel walls is necessary in order to obtain secure engagement of the parts. The central part of the decorative strip member 8 is slightly and smoothly curved and its upper surface lies substantially flush with the exposed surfaces I6 of the boards. The decorative strip extends entirely across the width of the joint between the boards to efiectively conceal .he joint and to prevent the entrance of drafts, dust and dirt therethrough.

Both the lower guide member I and the decorative member 8 may be supplied in long strips and rapidly cut to length and inserted into channels to cover joints.- No complicated interfitting or assembling operations are required for these parts at any time during the covering of a joint.

In certain instances it may be desired to utilize the joint covering means to cover joints formed by boards, wall boards or other adjacent members which do not have grooved or recessed edges. Fig. 4 illustrates the decorative means assembled with this type of joint. Prior to nailing or otherwise securing the adjacent members I5 to a support 6, a channel shaped member or strip 8 is placed between adjacent edges of the assaeas members I 5 so that legs or flanges I2 thereon project outwardly beneath the undersurfaces of the members I5. The channel shaped strips 8 are thus securely maintained in position at all times by the boards or other members I5, which preferably abut against the upwardly projecting sides of the channel shaped strip 9. It will be noted that the channel shaped strips have a substantially fiat upper surface which does not project above upper surfaces of the members I5. The upwardly curved decorative strip member 8a, which is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, is then placed into the space between the adjacent boards or members I5 so that it rests against the substantially fiat upper surface of the lower channel shaped strip 8. A pressing or flattening operation is then utilized to force the curved member 8a into the recess between the members I5 and to force the free edges of the curved member into engagement with the edges of the members to securely hold the curved and flattened member therein.

In Figs. 5 to 7- there is shown a modified form of the invention. The wall board channel and the lower guide strip Ia are similar to those illustrated and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. Seated upon the lower guide members la is an intermediate substantially U- shaped guide or supporting member I9 which has the lower free edges I8 and 2| thereof flared slightly outwardly. The intermedite member I9 is placed in a board channel so that its concave side faces downwardly and its upper part pro- Jects above the upper surfaces IBa of the wall boards. It will be noted that the intermediate member I8 fits freely into a channel so that the depending side portions thereof are spaced from the side walls I3a and Ida of a channel. The modified decorative strip member 23 has a slight- 1y curved uppe part 24, preferably wider than the width of the channel, and has downwardly depending leg portions which curve inwardly at the upper parts 25 and 21 thereof and fiare outwardly adjacent the free edges I8 and 2I thereof.

To cover a joint the flat guide member 1a is first placed at the bottom of a channel and then the curved intermediate member I9 inserted in the channel so that it rests against the lower guide member la. The decorative strip member 23 is then inserted in the channel so that it fits over the curved intermediate member I9. In this relation the depending legs of the modified decorative strip member lie between the walls I31: and Ila of a channel and the depending legs of the intermediate member III. The decorative strip member 23 is then preferably pressed into the channel by a pressure member such as that described in connection with Fig. 2. As the decorative member 23 is pressed into a channel, the free legs 28 and 22 thereof slide outwardly along the flat guide' member Ia and into engagement with the walls I3a and Ma of the channel. As the downward pressing movement continues, the outwardly flared free legs I8 and 2I of the intermediate member I9 also move outwardly; this tends to force the decorative strip legs 28 and 22 even more firmly into engagement with the channel walls. The decorative strip legs are thus held in a vise-like grip to prevent disengagement of the decorative strip from a channel.

The upper part 24 of the decorative strip member has, during the inlaying operation, become somewhat flattened and has spread over adjacent edges of the boards so that in final posia relatively long tion it overlies them slightly. This modified form of joint covering means may therefore be used in instances where it is desired to completely condescribed in connection with Figs. to 7. The

guide member 25 has a curved upper part 28 and outwardly flared lower parts terminating in free edges 29 and 8|. When a decorative strip member 23a is placed in position on this modified guide member 26, the outwardly fiared lower part thereof guides the free edges of the decorative strip into engagement with the channel walls. The upwardly projecting part 28 of the guide member 26 may be effective to support the decorative strip member 23:: in a manner similar to that of the intermediate strip of Fig. 7. During inlaying the side portions at the upper part of the decorative member 23a spreadoutwardly over and conceal adjacent edges-of the boards.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive joint covering means that may be easily and rapidly erected. No complicated parts or difiicult assembling operations are required and the present joint covering means may be retained securely in position without the use of nails, staples or the like.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the com- The decorative strip may thus first member with the free edges of the flanges projected outwardly and locked into engagement with the walls of said races to hold said decorative member in position, the top part of said decorative strip extending over the side edges of the recess to form a covering means therefor, and a supporting structure for said sheets.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of adjoining substantially coplanar sheets of material of substantial thickness indentable by a sharp metallic edge, the outer sides at the adjoining edges being formed with setbacks to provide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a relatively long guide member seated at th bottom of said recess and extending along the length thereof and having one side facing the outer opening of the recess, a relatively long decorative metallic strip. member seated on said first member with the free edges thereof projected outwardly and locked into engagement with the walls of said recess to hold said decorative member in position and to provide a covering means therefor and a supporting structure forsaid sheets. v

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of adjoining substantially coplanar sheets of material of substantial thickness indentable by a sharpmetallic edge, said sheets having grooves at the outer adjoining edges thereof to provide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a relatively long guide member seated at the bottom of said recess and extending along the length thereof and having one side facing the outer opening of the recess, a relatively long decorative metallic strip member seated on said first member with the free edges thereof embedded bination of a plurality of adjoining substantially coplanar sheets of material of substantial thicknes indentable by a sharp metallic edge, the outer adjoining edges being spaced apart to provide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a relatively long guide member seated at the bottom of said recess and extending along the length thereof and having one side facing the outer opening of the recess, a relatively long decorative metallic strip member seated on said first member with the free edges thereof projected outwardly and locked into engagement with the walls of said recess to hold said structure for said sheets. 2. ma device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of adjoining substantially outer adjoining edges being spaced apart to pro-.

vide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a relatively long guide member seated at the bottom of said recess and extending along the length thereof and having one side facing the outer opening of the recess,

decorative metallic strip member having a top and side flanges seated on said decorative member in position, and a supporting into the walls of said recess to hold said decora tive member in position and to form a covering means therefor, and a s pporting structure for said sheets.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of adjoining substantially coplanar sheets of material of substantial thickness indentable by a sharp metallic edge, the outer adjoining edges being spaced apart to provide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a relatively long guide member substantially V-shaped in cross section seated at the bottom of said recess, and extending a long the length thereof and having the convex side facing the outer opening of the'recess, a relatively long decorative metallic strip member seated on said first member with the free edges thereof projected outwardly and locked into engagement with the walls of said recess to hold said decorative member in position, and a supporting structure for said sheets.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of adjoining substantially coplanar. sheets of material of substantial thickness indentable by a sharp metallic edge, the outer adjoining edges being spaced apart to provide a relatively long narrow recess adapted to receive a covering means, a base member in the gagement with the walls of said recess'to hold said decorative member in position, and a suping a channel shaped cross-section seated on saidsaid guide member with the longitudinal edges thereof in engagement with the upper side of the guide member and pressing the decorative member into said channel and against said guide member to partially flatten the decorative member and to cause the free edges thereof to move into interlocking engagement with the walls of coplanar sheets with the free edges thereof in said recess and projected outwardly into locking engagement with the walls of said recess at the bottom thereof to hold said decorative member in position and to provide a covering means therefor and a supporting structure for said sheets.

8. The method of covering a recess in the outer face of and at the joint between adjoining wallboardshaving the joint line in the bottom of the recess, which method comprises, seating an elongated guide member at the bottom of the channel formed by said recess with one side facing outwardly, placing an elongated decorative channel member in said recess over said guide member and pressing the decorative member into said channel and against said guide member to partially flatten the decorative member and'to cause the free edges thereof to move into interlocking engagement with the walls of said recess.

9. The method of covering a channel at the joint between adjoining wallboards and the like, which method comprises, seating an elongated guide member at the bottom of the channel'with one side facing outwardly, placing an elongated decorative channel member in said channel over said channel. v

, 10. The method of covering a channel at the joint between adjoining wallboards and the like, which method. comprises, seating an elongated member substantially U-shaped in cross-section at the bottom of the channel with the convex side facing outwardly, placing an elongated decorative number substantially U-shaped in cross-section in said channel over said first member with the convex side facing outwardly and pressing the decorative member into the said channel and against said guide member to partially flatten the decorative member and to cause the free longitudinal edges thereof to embed themselves in the walls of said channel to lock said decorative member in position.

11. The method of covering a channel at the joint between adjoining wallboards and the like, which method comprises, seating an elongated guide member at the bottom of the channel, placing an elongated decorative channel member in said channel ove said guide member and pressing the decorative member into said channel and against said guide member to partially collapse the side flanges oi the decorative member and to cause the free edges thereof to move into interlocking engagement with the Walls of said channel and also to cause the longitudinal corners to extend .over the side edges at the opening of the channel to conceal the channel.

' JAMES J. LARMOUR. 

